A devastating explosion at a fireworks manufacturing facility in central China's Hunan Province has claimed the lives of 26 people and left 61 others injured. The incident, which occurred on Monday, has sent shockwaves through the region and prompted an immediate government response.
The blast took place around 4:43 p.m. at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company plant in Liuyang, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province. Liuyang is widely recognized as a premier hub for fireworks manufacturing on the Chinese mainland.
During a press conference held on Tuesday, Chen Bozhang, the mayor of Changsha, expressed profound grief and offered a sincere apology to the victims' families, affected residents, and the general public. The conference began with a somber moment of silence to honor those who lost their lives.
Authorities have confirmed that rescue operations are now nearly complete. Fortunately, real-time monitoring of air and water quality indicates that environmental indicators remain normal, mitigating concerns over chemical contamination following the blast.
In the wake of the tragedy, the person in charge of the Huasheng company has been detained by police as an investigation into the cause of the accident continues. To prevent further incidents, all fireworks production enterprises in Liuyang have been ordered to halt operations and undergo a comprehensive safety rectification process.
Reference(s):
Hunan fireworks blast kills 26 and injures 61, rescue nearly finished
cgtn.com
